Malawi has embraced a lofty ambition to expand banana production beyond basketfuls seen on sale nationwide.

Government has selected the yellow fruit as priority product for national economic growth, food security and nutritional health amid efforts to beat the banana bunchy top virus spread through diseased planting materials.

Bechdol: Crop diversification is pivotal to strengthen fragile food systems

Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale envisages the One Country One Priority  Product (Ocop) project by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations helping to end hunger, poverty and malnutrition.

Speaking on Monday in Blantyre during the regional launch  for Ocop implementation, he said  the project will boost Malawi’s potential to become a net exporter of bananas to neighbouring countries.

He said: “Malawi chose banana as a special crop because it has high return of up to $8 000 [about K8.1 million] per hectare, which is higher than many crops that fetch less than $1 000 [about K1 million] per hectare.

“Banana is also cheap to produce and can easily be integrated in our food system. ”

Kawale envisions bananas becoming the country’s “staple like maize and rice as well as a cash crop like tobacco and soya”.

“If we do the right things, we can achieve this and we will achieve this,” he said.

FAO is supporting selected countries to achieve green production, processing and marketing of special products.

“We are giving Malawi policy, technical and operational support, including training farmers and extension workers as well as development and distribution of clean planting materials and establishment of disease-free orchards,” said Zhijun Chen, FAO country representative in Malawi.

Opening the two-day workshop,  FAO deputy secretary-general Berth Bechdol said crop diversification is pivotal to strengthen fragile food systems amid climate and economic shocks.

According to Bechdol, nearly 75 percent of the world population relies on 12 plants that are vulnerable to pest attacks and climate change. In March this year, Cyclone Freddy affected over one million people in Southern Region and Mozambique, washing away crops and livestock in the process.

FAO has received $11 million (about K11.3 billion) for Ocop implementation, with China contributing $5 million (about K6 million) as part of its South-to-South Cooperation.

“This is the biggest contribution and we challenge other development partners to beat this,” said Bechdol.

FAO office in Malawi has received $400 000 (about K414 million) in support of the restoration of banana production, processing and marketing.

Malawi is one of 28 African countries that applied for Ocop support. Some 83 country worldwide have applied to promote 53 The global count hit 83 this .

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